Is the realease of police files a good thing?

[gilet]

The McCanns were not happy about the files being released at all   ...   "To every Tom, Dick, and Harry"  as Kate put it

Added to which,  we found out in court this week that even their own private detective was not given access to the full translated files,  so there is little  likelihood of the  McCanns sharing the information they have with the   public

Just for the record I agree 100% with Kate McCann on this issue.

It is disgraceful, in my opinion that the files of this case were released in the way they were and that illegally, they have been published in the way they have been.

Such a release will most certainly have deterred (and will in the future deter) others from volunteering information to the PJ.

[Montclair]

So, Kate and Gerry were upset that the police files were available to every Tom, Dick and Harry! Didn't they realise that the police files are always made public so that every Tom, Dick and Harry can read them if they wish to. Their lawyer must have told them.

[gilet]

So, Kate and Gerry were upset that the police files were available to every Tom, Dick and Harry! Didn't they realise that the police files are always made public so that every Tom, Dick and Harry can read them if they wish to. Their lawyer must have told them.

Their reaction is that of any normal British citizen who is totally unused to that action. Totally normal.

I am appalled that the system exists. It must certainly put people off the thought of volunteering to help the police and make statements when they are not compelled to do so because they know everything they say will be made public.

[Montclair]

Their reaction is that of any normal British citizen who is totally unused to that action. Totally normal.

I am appalled that the system exists. It must certainly put people off the thought of volunteering to help the police and make statements when they are not compelled to do so because they know everything they say will be made public.

The disclosure of police and court files is normal in Portugal and is done in the name transparency. It is important that everyone knows what the courts decide or what the police do. Perhaps you might think that it is normal to have secret courts in Britain but that idea does not exist here. And it certainly does not put off people from cooperating and volunteering information. Just because our system is different from the British does not make it worse. I'm sorry that the concept of transparency bothered Kate and Gerry.

[gilet]

The disclosure of police and court files is normal in Portugal and is done in the name transparency. It is important that everyone knows what the courts decide or what the police do. Perhaps you might think that it is normal to have secret courts in Britain but that idea does not exist here. And it certainly does not put off people from cooperating and volunteering information. Just because our system is different from the British does not make it worse. I'm sorry that the concept of transparency bothered Kate and Gerry.

The difference is not that our criminal system is in general secret but that only evidence which is actually pertinent to the case/trial is disclosed.

All evidence given in court is available in full transcript format after the trial. That is hardly secret courts. It is perfectly transparent.

I have asked is that available in Portugal but no-one seems to be able to answer. Perhaps you could.

I doubt it was the concept of transparency that worried them, they are used to that.

It was the fact that every tiny detail such as people's phone numbers were revealed. That is considered totally unacceptable here and I am personally shocked that the PT authorities do not understand how intimidating it could be to witnesses to know that the people they are giving evidence against can have their phone numbers and addresses and passport numbers etc. Actually I think it is scandalous and utterly stupid in this era of online fraud.

Do you really endorse the revealing of all that personal information about potentially vulnerable people and think it improves society?

[AnneGuedes]

I agree plainly that personal data should never be revealed.
But you will not find those in Pamalam's site, because they were removed.
The DVD was originally made for journalists or researchers, counting on their discretion. The MP never thought it would be on Internet in a nutshell.

[gilet]

I agree plainly that personal data should never be revealed.
But you will not find those in Pamalam's site, because they were removed.
The DVD was originally made for journalists or researchers, counting on their discretion. The MP never thought it would be on Internet in a nutshell.

That is the problem with trusting people like Duarte Levy who distributed unredacted copies of the DVD.

[John]

Please note guys, this question has been given its own thread.

[ferryman]

Just for the record I agree 100% with Kate McCann on this issue.

It is disgraceful, in my opinion that the files of this case were released in the way they were and that illegally, they have been published in the way they have been.

Such a release will most certainly have deterred (and will in the future deter) others from volunteering information to the PJ.

I certainly agree with that, but I would go further.

I think the whole basis of future bi-lateral cooperation between nations will be put at jeopardy.

I'll bet the British police would think twice, certainly about any joint venture with Portugal again.

[John]

A point worth mentioning in the context of the opening post. Did you know that trial statements can be made public in England and Wales but not in Scotland. So much for equal rights under the Law within a so-called United Kingdom?

[ferryman]

A point worth mentioning in the context of the opening post. Did you know that trial statements can be made public in England and Wales but not in Scotland. So much for equal rights under the Law within a so-called United Kingdom?

Yes, there are several variations between Scottish and English law, another being that in Scotland, uncorroborated dog alerts are permitted as evidence.

There was work undertaken exclusively by Portuguese police or other Portuguese agents they could have released without objection on the British side: the Almeida Interim report (heaven help us); PJ police interviews; the PJ final report; the report of the Prosecutors and so on.

But in Britain, there are strict procedures and protocols for the release of information into the public domain and the English police wanted reassurance that, as a condition of their willingness to take part in a joint investigation, UK procedures and protocols would be strictly adhered to in release of the the UK side of the investigation into the public domain.

That was just trampled over rough-shod, especially in release of the rogatory interviews to Levy.

How on earth did that ever happen?

[gilet]

Is it the norm in Portugal for all files relating to a case to be released completely un-redacted on DVD in the way the McCann Files were released?

While thinking about this overnight I started to remember (and need help to get the details back) that this was treated as a special case in some ways.

I may be wrong, but isn't the norm for the files to be available for viewing by journalists and others with proper reason to request it, at the local court building but that release on DVD was exceptional. Wasn't there some worry that they would be unable to cope with demand and that was the reason for the exception to be made.

Also wasn't there some kind of restriction on quoting large amounts from the McCann File DVD? In which case surely Pamalam and potentially others could be sued by the Portuguese Authorities?

I have a feeling that it is the way in which an exception was made in this case which led to the anger from Kate at every "Tom, Dick and Harry" getting access.

I wonder, could someone with genuine knowledge of the normal system in Portugal comment on this? And could anyone point to any other case where the files have been released in this way on DVD for the journalists to take away?

[Rachel Granada]

I'd like to know why the PT authorities haven't taken action about the files being plastered all over the internet.

[stephen25000]

'What about people - suspects, even - who attempted to use powers granted to them under the Hague convention to get police to reveal confidential information from police files to which they had absolutely no entitlement whatsoever? '

Now that is a good question.

[Rachel Granada]

'What about people - suspects, even - who attempted to use powers granted to them under the Hague convention to get police to reveal confidential information from police files to which they had absolutely no entitlement whatsoever? '

Now that is a good question.

Where does that quote come from, Stephen?

And what about the loony stalkers who contacted witnesses - after getting their info from the released files.  I understand that a Mr Edmonds and a Mr Naylor have been plagued by these deranged morons.